Having a part-time job is an important part of growing up for American teenagers. It can teach them important skills that will be useful for the rest of their lives. And many teenagers find that making their own money gives them a sense of pride and freedom.
American teenagers are allowed to do part-time jobs at the age of 14. During the school year, teenagers may go to work a few times a week after school, and work for longer at weekends.
In summer, top part-time jobs for teenagers include at camps, swimming pools and amusement parks. These jobs are great for those who want to be active and have fun while making money.
Some of the most stressful jobs include teaching, nursing, and police work. These skills help to prepare teenagers for their later lives. When they grow up, the students with work experience are more likely to succeed than those without work experience.
A favorite job for many teenagers is babysitting, and they can start before the age of 14 if their parents agree. As long as they stay in the house and make sure the kids are okay, babysitters can do their homework, watch TV, or talk on the phone with friends. After the kids go to bed and before the parents come home, babysitters have lots of freedom.
It can be stressful to balance school, homework, and a part-time job. However, many American teenagers value their work experience and the skills they get from the job.
【小题1】Why do American teenagers like to have a part-time job？

A．Because they don’t want to be stressed out.

B．Because they can learn skills and get money.

C．Because they can get a good job in the future.

D．Because they can do anything they like.

【小题2】Which kind of part-time job is less stressful for American teenagers?

A．Working at police.	B．Nursing
C．Working at camps.	D．Teaching.

【小题3】Which kind of part-time job can a 13-year-old girl do in America?

A．Working at parks.	B．Working at a swimming pool.
C．Looking after babies.	D．Doing the dishes in a restaurant.

【小题4】 What’s the meaning of the underlined word “value”?

A．喜欢

B．追求

C．向往

D．珍视

Joyce was born in a poor family. Next Friday would be her mother’s birthday. Joyce wanted to buy something for her mother, but she had no money. As an 8-year-old girl, she couldn’t do part-time jobs. What could she do to make enough money for her mother’s birthday present?

Suddenly she had an idea. Usually, she would go straight to school, but this morning, she didn’t. She walked along the streets, picking up cardboard（纸板）, plastic（塑料）bottles and cans（易拉罐）. When it was time for school, she hid them in the backyard and ran to school as quickly as possible.

Eight days later, she decided to sell all the things she had collected because the next day was her mother’s birthday. She had to sell them and buy a birthday present for her mother. In the shop, she bought a beautiful hair pin for her mother.

When her mother got the present, she said with tears in her eyes,“This is the best present I’ve ever received.”

1.How old was Joyce?

A. Seven.           B. Eight.         C. Nine.         

2.Why couldn’t Joyce buy a present for her mother at first?

A. Because she had no money.

B. Because she didn’t know what her mother liked.

C. Because she didn’t love her mother at all.

3.What was Joyce’s idea?

A. Doing part-time jobs.   

B. Collecting waste things and selling them.

C. Asking her best friend for help.

4.How long did Joyce collect the waste things?

A. A week.      B. A month.    C. More than a week.

5. How did Joyce’s mother feel when she got the present?

A. Very sad.       B. Very happy and moved.     C. Very surprised.

 

Do you have any foreign friends? Do you know their characteristics(特征)?
The Germans are very quiet and they always keep calm. They don’t like to speak more words. They look very serious. They like different kinds of amusements. The Germans are very hard—working. They like tidiness, especially the women, who always keep their home clean.
In some ways, the Englishmen look the same as the Germans. They are very quiet and never talk too much with the strangers. They are really polite, so we often hear they say “Thank you.” Or “Sorry.” The gentlemen are also the Englishmen.
The French’s holidays are very long. They like traveling and usually spend their long time staying in other countries. The Frenchmen are more outgoing than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them.
Compared to the Frenchmen, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener than all of the Europeans. They don’t like to depend on others. So it is very common that the students do part-time jobs in their free time. And in Americans’ eyes, success is an important part in their life.
【小题1】According to the passage, ______are very quiet.

A．only the Germans

B．only the Englishmen

C．only the Frenchmen

D．both the Germans and the Englishmen

【小题2】What does the underlined word “tidiness” mean in Chinese?

A．整洁

B．安静

C．时尚

D．随意

【小题3】In the writer’s eyes, the gentlemen are______.

A．the Germans	B．the Frenchmen
C．the Englishmen	D．the Americans

【小题4】What can we learn about the Frenchmen from the passage?

A．They are more outgoing than the Americans.

B．It is very easy to make friends with them.

C．They like traveling in their own country.

D．They look serious and are always hard-working.

【小题5】Which is the best title of the passage?

A．Foreigners’ hobbies.

B．Who are more outgoing?

C．Characteristics of the foreigners.

D．Success is an important part in Americans’ life.

How does Fred spend one week?

1.Where does Fred meet Ann?

A. At Brown’s house     B. In the hospital     C. At the station     D. At Kay’s house

2.For how many hours a week does Fred do his part—time job?

A. Five hours    B. Six hours． C. Ten hours   D. Eleven hours

3.        is ill in hospital.

A. Brown        B. Joy          C. Tom         D. Kay

4.Kay’s birthday is on         ．

A. Tuesday      B. Friday       C. Sunday      D. Thursday

5.What does Fred do on Saturday afternoon?

A. Play football   B. Study with Tom   C. Have a dancing class   D. Do part—time job

 

Audrey is a Chinese-American student. She has found many value differences between Chinese and Americans.
About money
Americans would like to spend more than they have, so many of them are always in debt(欠债). Chinese usually spend less than they have, so many of them have money left in the bank.
American kids love to make money by themselves. Chinese kids always ask their parents for money.
American parents think it is not useful to send their children to an expensive university. Chinese parents would do anything to send their children to a good university and that might make them very poor sometimes.
About school
Many American girls take part in sports, dancing and singing groups while Chinese girls take part in academic groups.
Some American students think that “B” is a gift while Chinese students think that “B” is terrible.
American parents and Chinese parents
American parents allow their daughters or sons to go out to have some part-time jobs in their free time or at the weekends. Chinese parents usually don’t allow their children to do so in middle or high schools.
【小题1】What would a Chinese middle school student probably NOT do at the weekends according to the passage?

A．Study at home	B．Do part-time jobs
C．Take part in sports groups	D．Do chores

【小题2】Some Chinese people have money left in the bank because _______.

A．they usually spend less than they have

B．they spend more than they have

C．they don’t like spend money at all

D．they make a lot of money

【小题3】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Chinese parents usually give their kids money.

B．American children love to make money by themselves.

C．The reason why Chinese parents would do anything to send their children to good universities.

D．Americans usually spend more money than they have.

【小题4】The underlined word “academic” probably means _________ in Chinese.

A．学术的

B．娱乐的

C．运动的

D．休闲的

【小题5】The best title for the passage would probably be _______.

A．Differences between Chinese and Americans.

B．Chinese students and Americans

C．Chinese parents and American parents.

D．Chinese values and American values